ISSUES IN CONSULTANT-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP

A number of interrelated issues can arise in

consultant-client relationships in OD activities, and
they need to be managed appropriately if adverse
are to be avoided.
ENTRY AND CONTRACTING

An initial discussion that can lead to an OD

consulting contract can occur in various ways, but
typically events evolve something like this.

DEFINING THE CLIENT SYSTEM

The question of who the client is quickly becomes

an important issue in consultant-client relationships.

THE TRUST ISSUE

A good deal of the interaction in early contracts
between client and consultant is implicitly related to
developing a relationship of mutual trust.
THE NATURE OF THE CONSULTANTS EXPERTISE
Partly because of the unfamiliarity with organization
development methods, client frequently try to put the
consultant in the role of the expert on substantive
content, such as on personnel policy or business strategy.
DEPTH OF INTERVENTION
A major aspect of selecting appropriate interventions is
the matter of depth of intervention.
ON BEING ABSORBED BY THE CULTURE

One of the many mistakes one can make in the

change-agent role is to let oneself be seduced into joining
the culture of the client organization.
THE CONSULTANT AS A MODEL
Another important issue is whether change agents are
willing and able to practice what they preach.
THE CONSULTANT TEAM AS A MICROCOSM
The consultant-key client viewed as a team, or
consultants working as a team, can profitably be viewed
as a microcosm of the organization they are trying to
create.
THE DEPENDENCY ISSUE AND TERMINATING
THE RELATIONSHIP
If the consultant is the because of enhancing the client
systems abilities in problem solving and renewal, then
the consultant is in the business of assisting the client to
internalize skills and insights rather than to create a
prolonged dependency relationship.
ETHICAL STANDARDS IN OD
Much of this chapter and, indeed, much of what has
preceded in other chapter, can be viewed in term of
ethical in OD practice, that is in terms of enhancement
versus violation of basic values and/or in terms of help
versus harm to.

CHAPTER 14

ISSUES IN CONSULTANTCLIENT RELATIONSHIP

SUBMITTED BY:JHON ARWIN

MALIPOL
SUBMITTED TO:DEAN AVE
D.VILLANUEVA